Man charged in Milford sex trafficking case on trial in Hartford

Juveniles found in Milford hotel

Published
7:22 pm EST, Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Edward Thomas, 40, of New York, is on trial before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Chatigny in Hartford. Thomas faces two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. less

Edward Thomas, 40, of New York, is on trial before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Chatigny in Hartford. Thomas faces two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sex ... more

Photo: Journal Register Co.

Photo: Journal Register Co.

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Edward Thomas, 40, of New York, is on trial before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Chatigny in Hartford. Thomas faces two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. less

Edward Thomas, 40, of New York, is on trial before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Chatigny in Hartford. Thomas faces two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sex ... more

Photo: Journal Register Co.

Man charged in Milford sex trafficking case on trial in Hartford

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HARTFORD >> A tip about an online escort advertisement featuring a young-looking female prompted investigators to set up a sting that ultimately led them to Edward “Fire” Thomas, according to testimony in federal court Tuesday.

Thomas, 40, of New York, is on trial before U.S. District Court Judge Robert Chatigny in Hartford. Thomas faces two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the two minors were 16 and 17-years-old at the time.

In October 2012, Kobelia called the phone number and posed as a customer, and he said he was directed to a Howard Johnson’s hotel in Milford. Investigators approached staff and learned Kayla Walters, who had a Kentucky driver’s license, had rented two rooms.

According to Kobelia, investigators believe one room was rented for those involved to stay in, while the second room was used for prostitution purposes.

Investigators learned Walters was not the female depicted in the original online posting, he said, but investigators also found separate online ads featuring Walters.

Agents arranged to recover the minor depicted in the advertisement, Kobelia said. This time, they found Thomas had rented two rooms, according to testimony.

They encountered Walters and Thomas in a hallway, and when they went to the rooms, they found the female from the ad in a bed, covered in a sheet, and appearing to be passed out.

Investigators woke her up, and took her to Yale-New Haven Hospital. The female later spent time in a program for girls who have been trafficked, according to testimony.

A federal grand jury indicted Thomas and Walters on charges related to the sex trafficking of minors in February 2014, and the pair was arrested at a hotel in Milford, which prosecutors didn’t identify, on Feb. 28.

The scheme allegedly took place at various hotels in Connecticut.

Walters, 23, recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, and she awaits sentencing. Federal guidelines call for Walters to get between 87 and 108 months in prison.

Investigators seized items such as Thomas’ telephone and camera, and jurors on Tuesday saw phone records and photographs that officials recovered from them.

There were photographs of the minor from the original Milford tip in lingerie, along with provocative photographs of Walters, and a second minor. Some photographs from Thomas’ electronic devices show images of females who investigators have not yet been able to identify, Kobelia said. One photo shown to jurors shows Thomas holding a wad of $100 bills.

One photograph described one of the minors, “This is my new Hawaiian (expletive),” according to evidence presented Tuesday.

FBI Special Agent James Hardie, who specializes in investigating child sex trafficking, was not involved in this case, but he testified in general about the relationship between a pimp and a prostitute.

“Typically, there is manipulation involved between the pimp and their victim,” Hardie said. “For pimps, children are easier to manipulate. The pimp maintains ultimate control in any pimp-prostitute relationship.”

When asked if minors who have gotten involved in prostitution ever do so on their own, Hardie said, “Based on my experience, juveniles are most often under pimp control; there is an adult facilitating the prostitution.”

According to Hardie, the pimp-prostitute relationship is coerced, with the pimp playing on a victim’s desire to be in a relationship.

“The pimp is a master manipulator, and their ultimate goal is to get them to engage in these acts,” Hardie said. “The victims have been manipulated to believe this is the only way to make money. The victim believes in a relationship with the pimp, who is selling the idea that ‘You need to do this so we can get ahead.’ But in reality, it is so the pimp makes money.”

Testimony in Thomas’ trial, which started late last week, is ongoing. If convicted, he could face up to life imprisonment.